Proverbs22
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together: Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches, and honor, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve him that hath knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain, And he that giveth to the rich, shall come only to want.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,
21 To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 For Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil them.
24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, And get a snare to thy soul.
26 Be thou not one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts.
27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.
Study
Proverbs 22Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 22. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
v1
We should be more careful to do that by which we may get and keep a good name, than to raise or add unto a great estate.
v2
Divine Providence has so ordered it, that some are rich, and others poor, but all are guilty before God; and at the throne of God's grace the poor are as welcome as the rich.
v3
Faith foresees the evil coming upon sinners, and looks to Jesus Christ as the sure refuge from the storm.
Key Words
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
בָּחַר: properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select
רַב: abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
עֹשֶׁר: wealth
חֵן: graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)
טוֹב: good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
כֶּסֶף: silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
זָהָב: gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky
עָשִׁיר: rich, whether literal or figurative (noble)
רוּשׁ: to be destitute
Cross References
Proverbs 22Both verses state that a good name is better than precious ointment or riches.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explicit Mosaic prohibition against removing an ancient landmark set by fathers.
Supported by JFB
Exhortation to enter chambers and hide until indignation is past, parallel to the prudent man.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament statement of the sowing and reaping principle for unrighteousness.
Supported by JFB
Pronounces a curse on anyone who removes their neighbor's landmark.
Supported by JFB
Godliness holds promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel description of the slothful man claiming there is a lion in the way.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the warning against removing old landmarks and entering fields of the fatherless.
Supported by JFB
Law concerning taking a neighbor's raiment/bed as pledge, matching verse 27's warning.
Supported by JFB
Oppressing the poor reproaches their Maker, who is Maker of both rich and poor.
Supported by JFB
God dwells with those of a humble spirit, matching the reward of humility.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Supported by Matthew Poole
He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul, avoiding traps.
Supported by JFB
Detailed warning against striking hands and becoming surety for a stranger.
Supported by JFB
A strange woman is described as a narrow pit and deep ditch.
Supported by JFB